pfannkuche



.(No Mlod e i.) 2Sheets-Sheet 1. G. PFANNKUCHE.

, ELECTRIC SWITCH.

' Patented May 17 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. V

G. PPANNKUUHE. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

No. 474,921 Patented May 17, 1892.

UNIT D STATES PATENT *l'Qrrrcn.

GUSTAV PFANNKUCl-IE, or CLEVELAND, onto, AssIeNoR Tori-1E BRUSH ELECT-RIC'COMPANY, F SAME PLAoE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent no. 474,921, dated Ma 17, 1892..

Application filed Herein 1, 189i). Serial No. $2,199. (No model.)

. To all whom it mag concern.-

' State of Ohio, have invented certain new and reduced.

- nsefullmproveinents in ElectricSwitches; and

I do hereby declare the following to be a' full, clear, and exact-description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in'the art to f g strueted andmounted in the manner shown in Fig. 4, the blocks themselves being, essenwhich it appertai'ns to make and use the same.

My invention has reference to improve rnents in electric switches of the character known in the art as snap-switches, and'the object of the invention is to produce a switch by, means of which a circuit carrying acnrrent with great rapidity and the contacts so widely separated that the destructive sparking'which in other switches In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one practical form which myinvention may assume Without limiting myself to th "exact details shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a plan view of my i ne proved switch constructed asa duplex switch for opening and closing the circuit'at two points simultaneously, the circuit beingshown as closed. Fig. 2 is a likeview showing the circuit open. a Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the switch-arms with portions broken away to more clearlyexhibit the construction of its parts, and. Fig. 4 is a section on line mm, Fig; ,l. s g

Like numerals of referenceindicate like parts all throughout the drawings. Referring to these drawings, my switch is shown as mounted upon'a base-board 1,whihh is. made of insulating material, and preferably ofslate,'stone, glass, earthenware, or'other like refractory substance;v Upon this baseboard are mounted the contact-blocks 2 3-4 5, preferably arranged in a, straight line,as shown, the contact-blocks 2 and 3 beingethe terminalsofonebranch 6 6 of the'circuit, and

the contactblocks 4 5 the terrninals of' t'he other branch 7 of the circuit. In the straight line marked by the contact-blooksand mid-i waybetween the blocks 3 4 is the pivot 8' of the switchslever 9, which latter is of insulating material and the construction of which will hereinafter more fully appear, and in the of high eiectro-motiv e force can be broken occurs is in a great measure-- same'straigh't line are mounted upon the base-board the pivots 1O 11 of the metallic The contact blocks 2, 3,4, and 5 are con- 6o tially, cubical in form with their upper faces 4' slightly inclined, while froin'thelower end of each block extends a bolt'15 through the base-boardl. This bolt is screw-threaded at itslower end, Ins shown, and'the circuit-wire then placed upon the "looped wire, andthe contact-block and wire are tightly clamped bya nut17.' I To one side of each contact-blockfis screwed '7 is loopedtrround the bolt; A washer 16 is an angular piece 180i spring metal which rises above and passes over the inclined upper surface 4 of the contact-block, being there.

inclined oppositely to the inclination of the face 4, as shown, so as to form, with the latter, a" slightly wedge-shaped seat for the reception of one ofthe switch-arms 13 or 14, which are.

also wedged-shaped in cross-section. v

The, switch-arms are, in effect, bell-crank levers, the long branches of which arestraight and wedge-shaped in cross-section, as stated,

while the shorter branches 13 ll'are curved and forked at their ends, asfishown and in these forks are mounted grooved antifriction rollers 19, of insulating material.

These switch-arms are. pivoted in the manner clearly shown in Fig.3. I Each pivotis formed by a screw bolt whichin Fig.3 is niarked by the referencenumeral I1 and which is clamped to the base-board by a nut 20, there being acollar 11' formedon. the bolt, from;

which collar 2. locking-pin Blpasses into the :base board, whereby-the bolt 11 is prevented from-turning.- Washers 22 23 are preferably interposed between the collar and the base.-

board and between the nutand the based board-,frespectively'. I v The screw-threaded portion of the-bolt 11,

which projects above "the base-board, constitutes the pivot of the. switch-arm, which for, this purpose has a nut formed at the'enlarged;

movement to-the switch-arm, 'without Wait);

juncture of its two branches 14. 14.". Thus it will be seen that when the switch arm is turned in one direction or the other it will screw up orvdown upon'its pivot; but the extent of this up or down movement is small, and the contacts may easily be arranged so that the vertical movement of the arm in closing the switch has no effect in making the contact lighter. On the contrary, by a suitable arrangement the said vertical movement may be utilized to put increased pressure on the contact. ing arranged to enter between a contact block, as 4, and a spring-plate, as 18, Fig. 4, the vertical motion tends to bring it' more firmly against one of said parts. This screw-threaded pivotal connection is very convenient, since it is easily'manufactured, and gives a smooth bling, and requires noadj ustment. .The same pivotal connection, by means of a screw-bolt,

' is also used for. the switch-lever 9, so that Without further description itwill be under- 'stood that the pivot 8 is in all respects like the pivots 10 and 11.

'For a purpose which 'willhereinafter more fully appear the lower prong 2t of the fork on the switch isronnded off a its end, and for convenience of construction the upper prong is similarly shaped. Upon the pintle or shaft 26- of the grooved anti-friction roller 19, where it extends above the upper fork 25, is mounted a sleeve 27, provided with an ear 28 for the attachment thereto of one end of the mounted on the switch-lever 9.

' larger angular motion.

24 is formed a notch 30 forv the engagement actuating-spring 29, the other end of which is secured to-a like sleeve and eye 2728, As 'sll0wn, the sleeve 27', or point of attaching thespring to the switch-lever, is at a greater'distance from the pivot 8 than is the sleeve 27 from the pivot 11, so that theswitch-arm has the side with brass plates, as indicated by dot-ted 1 lines 8. 8'. 'On one side of the pivot 8 one edge of the lever 9 is expanded, so as to form a protuberance 37, and a like protuberance 38 is formedlon the lever on the other side of the-pivot 8 on the opposite edge. -As will presently appear, these protuberanccs act as cams in my switch and each of them merges into a curved concavity 37 38, respectively,

toward the pivotal point of the lever. By preference, although not necessarily so, the portions of the edges of the lever embracing Thus, as shown, the switch-arm be In the lower prong the rotuberan'ces and concavities are chamferet, as indicated, so as to loosely lit the grooves, in the anti-friction rollers 1-9. At

equal distances from, the pivot 8 there are mounted on the switch-lever J the triggernns 39 -10, so located upon the lever that when the said lever is moved from the position shown in. Fig. 1, iii the direction of thearrow indicated,to the position shown in Fig. 2 the trigger-pins will 'come into contact with the upper arms of the detent-levers 32, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The operation of aswiteh thus constructed will now be easily understood, and since the [operation is the same for each of the switcharms 13 and 14: it will only be necessary to describe this operation with reference to one of these arms, and I shall therefore confine myself .to'- the operation of the switch-arm 14.

If it isnow desiredwto break" the; circuit,

the handle portion 9. of the switch-lever is moved in'the direction of the arrowindicated, whereby, the switch-arm- 14 being locked, the protuberance 37, which lightly bears upon the anti-friction roller ll), is moved away from said roller, while the spring 29 is forcibly extended and thus put "under considerable strain.- \Vhile this movement continues the trigger-pin 39 approaches the upper arm of the detent-lever- 32 until it finally touches the-same, when by a slight additional The actuating helical.

movement of the switch-lever in the same direction the trigger-pin 39 impinges' upon the upper arm of the detent32, moving said detent about its pivot 33, againstthe tension of the spring 34, whereby the locked lower end of said detent is disengaged from the notch 30 in the lower prong 24 of the fork: of the switch-arm l t. As soon as this is effected, and while the switch-leveris held by hand in -the new position shown in Fig. 2, the switcharm 14', being now released and forcibly acted upon by the strained spring 29, will suddenly and with great rapidity be turned about. itsopen positiont'sho'wn in Fig. 2) the lower prong 2i of the fork will in its movement entirely recede from the head of the hook 31 of the detent, as shown in Fig. 2, and in order to facilitate -such clearance-the said head is cut away so as to present an inclined plane 31 to the rounded endof the lower prong. In the open position otthe switch-arm theanti-fri'c-y tion rol1er'19 will gently bear upon the curved lever, as shown in Fig. to close the circuit, the handle of the switchconcavity'37, formed adjacent vto the camprotuberance 37 on the edge of the switch- If it is now desired lever is turned in the direction of the arrow indicated in Fig.2, whereby the cam-protuberance 37, acting upon the grooved anti-friction roller, turnsthe switch-arm-M toward and finally into the position shown in Fig. 1. 'While this movement is taking place the detent-lever 32, being now released from the trigger-pins 39, is, with its inclined head 31", in the path of the lower prong 24 of the fork. This prong, however, being rounded and the head 31 representing an inclined plane, the

prong will gradually ride up that inclined plane until the hook 31 again engages the notch 30, which takes placewhen. the straight wedge-shaped portion of the switch-arm is.

f securely lodged between the contact-blocks 4 5 and spring-plates 18. During this operation the actuating-spring 29 is not perceptibly put .under tension, so that in the operationof this switch this spring is put under tension only momentarily while the switchlever is being operated for providingjthe conditions for breakingthe circuit.

While I have described the operation of my improved switch .with reference to one switch- A I claim and desire to secure by asdescribed,

3. A quick-acting snap-switch,consisting,

arm only, it will be clear that the other switch- 'armwhich I have shown and described in op;

erati've relation to the switch-lever will The actuated in-precisely the same manner, so that;

afurther description is unnecessary.

-Having now fully described my invention;

Letters Patent' 1. In anelectrical snap-'switeh,-' the combination, with a switch lever pivoted between itsends, ot switch-arms, springs connecting one end of each' of said switeh arms to the switch-lever, a trigger for each switch-arm, springs for retainingtriggers normally in engagement with said switch-arms, and trig-' g'er-pins carried by said switch-lever at opessentially, of a metallic armor. arms-for closing and opening a c1rcuit,.a switch-lever arms imposition to close the circuit, detents for locking the arms in their closed position, and a normally-relaxed spring for each arm,

connecting Ithelatter with the switch-lever,

and a trigger for-each detent carried by the lever, whereby each spring is put under tension before the arms are unlocked, substantiallyasdescribed. v 1 e y 4. In an electric snap-switch, the combination of one of more pivoted switch-arms for closing and opening a circuit or. circuits and a switch-lever in operative relation to the arms, protuberances on said switch lever, adapted to engage said switch-arms and move the same positively in one direction to close the circuit with detents for locking the arms in their closed position, normally -'relaxed springs connecting each arm with the lever, so that .the springs maybe put under ten-' 'sion without moving the arms, and triggers for unlocking the arms after the springs have been put under tension, substantially as described.--

5. A quick-acting snap switch comprising one or more pivoted metallic switch-arms, a switch -lever, protuberanceson said switchlever, adapted to engage theswitch-arms and positively actuate them for closing'the circuit, det'ents". adapted to engage said arms for locking the 'arms in the closed position,

normally-relaxed springs connected with the arms and lever, and triggers on the lever for operating the detents to release the arms substantially as described. a

6. A quick-actingsnap-sw'tch comprisingone or more metallic switchidiim's, a switclr. lever having cam-protuberances for-engaging-the switch-arms to .move them tothe I00 when the springs are placed under tension,

closed position, 'detents, for locking the switch arms in the closed position, normally-relaxed springs connecting the armsand levers, and.

triggers on the lever for operat ng the detents to release the arms when the springs are placed under tension, substantially as d scribed. a

7.. In an electric switch, the combination, with a pivoted switch-arm provided with an insulating-anti-friction roller, of a switchlever provided with a cam-protuberance for engaging said roller, substantially as described. I a H v 8. In an electric switch, thecombination,

.with a switch arm mounted on 'a screwthreaded pivot, of an electrical contact having a'coutact-surface on the side of the arm toward which the'isaid arm is moved by the screw-thread invturning the same to close the switch, substantially as described.

9. The combination of the switch-lever, the switch-arm pivoted on an independent axis parallel with the axis of the switch lever, a

. spring connecting the shorter branch of the switch-arm withthe switch-lever, and a trigger and detent for said switch-arm, substam jtially as described. having protuberances thereon for forcing said 10. An electric snap-switch comprising a switch-lever, separate switch-arms mounted In testimony whereof I- have signed this indpcndentlyef said lever andof each other specification in the presence of two subscriband provided each with its own, contacts, ing witnesses.

springs connecting Lhe'said arms, respect.- 4 GUSTAV PFANNKUCIIE. ivcly, with the switch-lever, and triggers and Witnesses: v dct'cnts' for said arms, substantially as de- A. 15. CALHOUN, scribed. v V. A. PALLAN'I. 

